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Minority Dallas council members back off reconsideration of initial Aug. 22 judge shake-up

Minority members of the Dallas City Council have backed off of their push to reconsider the initial judge shake-up approved on Aug. 22.

The move comes after a straw vote Monday, in which the racially divided council narrowly endorsed a way out of the controversy the shake-up has generated. In the 8-7 straw vote, the council endorsed using a budget amendment to add two more full-time judges to the current 11.

By supporting that straw vote, Mayor Mike Rawlings had already given black council members what they want most: Cheryl Williams back on the bench.

It’s not clear whether Rawlings would have supported today’s item. But it seems reasonable to suspect that, had he promised his support, the minority members would have pushed forward with it today. But, as I said yesterday, adding a couple of judges is one thing. Unseating five new judges who’ve already been sworn in would be quite another.

So here’s what council member Dwaine Caraway (dressed in African garb as was Vonciel Jones Hill) had to say this morning, addressing the mayor. Watch the video above or read it below:

I appreciate your leadership and I think we as a council appreciate your leadership. When there are concerns, I think working through those concerns is something that we should always set as a good practice. I believe that at the end of the day, working through, listening, and following your directions –- and I personally appreciate it, I want you to know that — it will make for better decisions that we will see ourselves making down the road on behalf of our citizens.

Respectfully at this time, I think that we should pull our reconsideration at this time. I’d ask for a motion to pull this item. And then we will move it forward after we go through proper procedures and processes.

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